Morning Update Sept. 13, 2012
Incident: Horsethief Canyon Wildfire
Released: 9/13/2012
Horsethief Canyon Fire Morning Update
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Contact Fire Information: 307.739.5577
HorsethiefCanyonFire@gmail.com
The primary firefighting effort for Thursday will be along the south flank of the fire while maintaining the fireline around the northwest corner of the fire, the area closest to Jackson. The south flank exhibited the most activity on Wednesday with winds blowing from the north and northwest. Winds are expected to be lighter today, though atmospheric instability could result in active fire behavior.
Aviation resources will continue to be critical tools today to support attack efforts on the ground. Water and retardant drops by helicopters and air tankers enable firefighters to directly attack the fire. The Type 1 helicopter that was experiencing mechanical problems yesterday is operational this morning; the second Type 1 helicopter is expected to be repaired sometime this morning.
Due to the successful efforts on the northern portion of the fire, firefighters will begin focusing more attention on the southern perimeter of the fire. With the decreased evacuation advisory in east Jackson, some of the engines and crews that have been patrolling that area will be repositioned to the Game Creek area. Firefighters will perform evaluations on structures in the Game Creek subdivision so firefighters can better prepare in the event there is a need to protect structures in the area. Firefighters performing the assessment will also provide tips to homeowners on how to prepare in the event fire moves down the Game Creek drainage.
The fireline put in to date has proved to be effective and is holding strong. Several crews spent the night in the field to address any unexpected fire activity. Crews working the northwest corner of the fire, the section closest to the town of Jackson, began mop-up operations Wednesday.
The Elk Refuge Road will be closed to pedestrians and bicycles from the intersection of E Broadway and Elk Refuge Road to the Miller House. Vehicles are permitted through with momentary closures but are not allowed to stop. This closure is being enacted to allow for helicopters to safely operate. Furthermore, pedestrians using the sidewalk bordering E Broadway are asked not to stop and linger along the fence bordering the Elk Refuge.
Closure Information: Residents and visitors are reminded that an area closure is in effect for Cache and Game Creeks, including trails on Snow King, to provide for the safety of firefighters and the public. Entering a closure area is prohibited by the Code of Federal Regulations and a citation along with a fine will be issued to violators.
Evacuation Information: The voluntary evacuation advisory area for east Jackson has been reduced, and no other advisories have been issued at this time. All highways and businesses in and around Jackson remain open. Any possible evacuations will be coordinated by the Jackson Police Department with support from by Jackson Hole Fire/EMS and the Teton County Sheriff's Office. The Nixle system (http://www.nixle.com/) is being used to provide updates every two hours or more often as needed.
Acres burned
Percent contained
Total Personnel
Helicopters
Crews
Engines
Bulldozers
Cost
2,918
15
477
6
7
23
2
$1.7 mill
For additional information, see http://inciweb.org/incident/3241/ or http://www.tetonfires.com/.
